* In the TCG, Slowking's {{TCG|Southern Islands}} card is the only card depicting a Pokémon introduced after [[Generation I]] to have a square evolution box, in Japan only. In English, the Southern Islands collection used the Neo-era designs, which, like all later card layouts, feature a circular evolution box.

* In the TCG, Slowking's {{TCG|Southern Islands}} card is the only card depicting a Pokémon introduced after [[Generation I]] to have a square evolution box, in Japan only. In English, the Southern Islands collection used the Neo-era designs, which, like all later card layouts, feature a circular evolution box.

* The {{p|Shellder}} of {{p|Slowbro}}'s {{Shiny}} form is gold, like a Shiny Shellder. This is not so for Shiny Slowking.

* The {{p|Shellder}} of {{p|Slowbro}}'s {{Shiny}} form is gold, like a Shiny Shellder. This is not so for Shiny Slowking.

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* Despite being Slow'''king''', Slowking can be female. This also occurs with Slowpoke's other evolution, Slowbro, with ''bro'' being short for ''brother''.

Biology

Physiology

Slowking are Slowpoke who were bitten on the head by a Shellder. This is often the result of a Slowpoke holding a King's Rock because a Slowpoke holding this item will attract Shellder to bite its head, rather than its tail. Shellder's bite begins to release venom into Slowpoke's brain, causing a chemical chain-reaction which unlocks a superior intelligence and extraordinary power. The more venom the Shellder releases, the more intelligent Slowking will become. However, if the Shellder on its head come off, it will forget everything it has learned.

In appearance, Slowking looks much like a bipedal Slowpoke with its Shellder resembling a crown, although the shape of Slowking's eyes and the scales on its belly cause it to differ from its pre-evolution. There is a small red gem on the upper part of the "crown." Slowking also have a spiny red and white ruff around its neck. Upon evolving, its tail becomes shorter and presumably no longer produces the sap-like substance that it did as Slowpoke. Much like Slowbro, Slowking has a scaled underbelly.

The Shellder on its head is apparently not as tightly clamped on as one would be on a Slowbro's tail. This is likely due to the absence of the sweet tasting sappy substance it would taste if attached to a Slowbro's tail. As it is possible for the Shellder to detach and fall off, but not cause a devolution, it's likely Slowking's evolution is permanent and irreversible for both Pokémon involved. However, as mentioned the Shellder must remain attached to Slowking for it to retain its intelligence and memory. Whether or not Slowking's mental state reverts to that of a Slowpoke is unknown.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Due to the way Shellder's poison reacted with its brain, Slowking possess an amazing intelligence, to the point that it can match that of a human's and can understand and speak the human language. They can plan situations with effective results. Every time Slowking yawns, Shellder injects more poison into it, making it even more intelligent.

Slowking can use Nasty Plot and the rarely seen Trump Card attack while being unable to learn Slack Off and Amnesia on its own (those two moves would have to come from the Slowpoke it evolved from).

Behavior

Because Slowking is much more intelligent than Slowpoke or Slowbro, wild Slowking must lead colonies of wild Slowpoke and Slowbro in times of crisis. According to The Complete Pokémon Pocket Guide, it has such an easy-going personality that it never gets stressed.

Slowking made its first anime appearance in A Crowning Achievement, where a colony of Slowpoke are attempting to reach the King's Rock in order to evolve into one so that they could help save the colony from a drought. The Slowpoke were faced with many problems since the King's Rock was also surrounded by Shellder and when ever they fail to reach it they evolve into a Slowbro instead. One Slowpoke named Arthur, which was owned by Alice, tries and eventually succeeds. In the end, he leaves Alice in order to be the leader for the colony. It reappeared in Larvitar and Unown's vision in the episode Address Unown.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

A hint of Slowking's existence first appeared in Volume 7, while Lorelei was musing on Slowbro's enhanced abilities after it had been bitten by Shellder. She remarked that Slowpoke would likely have further improved abilities if it was bitten on its head.

However, Slowking's proper debut was in Volume 13, under the ownership of Sham. It was able to use its Snore alongside Carl's Magcargo to attack even when asleep. However, a double Giga Drain defeated them both.

In the Platinum chapter, Charon was seen in possession of a Slowking. This Slowking was used to provoke Giratina into attacking Pearl, and later was used to attack Pearl again when Diamond was "killed." It was later abandoned toward the end of the arc.

Trivia

In the TCG, Slowking's Southern Islands card is the only card depicting a Pokémon introduced after Generation I to have a square evolution box, in Japan only. In English, the Southern Islands collection used the Neo-era designs, which, like all later card layouts, feature a circular evolution box.

The Shellder of Slowbro's Shiny form is gold, like a Shiny Shellder. This is not so for Shiny Slowking.

Origin

Slowking's shell makes it similar to hermit crabs, though it is physically similar to giant otters, giant salamanders, and hippopotamuses. Its shell "crown" may also be a reference to the mythical sazae-oni, a magical sea demon of Japanese folklore distinguished by its spiny "sazae" or "turban shaped" snail shell. It is also based on a king, as the growth around its neck is based on a king's ruff while its shell is similar to a crown.

Name origin

Slowking is a combination of slow and king.

Yadoking is a combination of 宿借り yadokari (hermit crab) and king. Alternatively, it may also derive from 宿主 yadonushi ([parasitic] host), based on its relationship with Shellder in its evolutions.